Chromatic device



Nov. 28, 1939. F. R. HIGLEY 2,181,

CHROMATIC DEVICE Filed Nov. 18, 1937 2 Sheets-Shet 1 FIG-2 Fla-3INVENTOR Nov. 28, 1939. F. R. HIGLEY 218L184 CHROMATIC DEVICE Filed Nov.18, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 23 24 2o F|G.ll

mmm. u nu nu I n n 7 FIG-- INVENTOR FRANK R. HIGLEY\ mzw wv ATTORN EYJto so color the disks as to produce the described Patented Nov. 28, 1939I 2,181,184 v I orntoMA-rw DEVICE Frank R. Higley, Cleveland Heights,Ohio Application Novem-ber 18, 1937, Serial No. 175,280 1151 Claims.(01'. 46-49) This invention relates to toys of the chromatic 'whirligigvariety which include a pair or more of colored disks disposed inoverlapping relation with each other upon parallel axes and mounted forrotation in unison about anintermedi'ate parallel axis and'each forindividual rotation about its own axis. Operation of such a toy involvesits rotation with periodic reversal of direction obtainable by ,meanssuch as disclosed in "the" three patents to Van Altena, 194,628 0fAugust mum number of parts, each-of the simplest possible form so thatthe article is produceable tothe user at a very minimum of cost ofmaterials, shipment and assembly; and furthermore to provide that thechromatic Sefiects producedbe of greater brilliance during operation ofthe device and the appearances of parts more attractive when stationarythan has heretofore been producediritheart. v v g The inventionparticularly contemplates em ployment of but a single .pairof coloreddisks arranged in overlapping relation, and operable by means passingthrough the disk centers, such as a twisting cord or cords. And moreparticularly objects of the invention are to so arrange the colors onthe disks that'no'more than two primary colors will appear-to theobserver -dur-- to this end, is to interconnect the disks by meanslargely'concealed and disposed generally between their overlappingportions. .Afurther object is effect when the device is in operationyet'display not only the primary colors but the secondary colorscompounded therefrom when the parts are stationary.

Also contributory to these ends and as animportant feature of theinvention, the latter inbe apparent from the following description takenin connection with the accompanying drawings,

in which Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are face views of an embodiment of theinvention showing the parts in various adjusted positions; Fig. 4 is atypical other'modificatio n, Figs. 9 and 10 being face.

and edgeviews of thesame, Fig. 11 being a view of the yoke member andFig. 12 a perspective view of one of the pinion members employed inthis'modification.

With reference now to the drawings and first to the form of theinvention illustrated in Figs.

1 i304 thereof, I generally represents each of a pair of similar diskswhich may be of sheet metal; cardboard or the like, having a centralsmall circular opening finished by a metal eyelet 2 orthe like. .Eachdisk also has a pair of diametrically opposed openings 3.

The disks are disposedin partially overlapping relation each with aperipheral part adjacent the center of theother. I

The disks are maintained in such overlapping relation by a pair of links4, each link being dis posed between the disks and interconnectingthemat oneof the openings 3 of each disk, so that the assembly has thecharacteristics of a fourbar linkage. As illustrated. at each joint theend of the link is bent to extend through'the opening 3 of the disk,the'overhanging extremity of the link wire being flattened, asillustrated to maintain the assembly. It will be apparent that the.disks may be mounted for alternate'rotation together as a unit, inopposite directions about aunit axis medial of their individual axesbymeans located in their central openings. -Such means are hereindicated as sections of an endless cord 5 threaded through the eyelets2'with stretches between the operators' hands. It will also be apparentthat the links 4 permit adjustment of the disks about their individualaxes while serving to gear them together for maintaining an indexedrelation between them as well as fixing the spacing between theircenters and generally interconnecting the disks.

The proportioning and arrangement of the parts, and particularly theform of the links. and

the location. of the openings 3, are preferably.

such that each disk may have maximum adjustment about its axis. Onelimit of such adjustment is indicated by the parts positioned as in Fig.1 wherein the two links engage each other between the disks asillustrated in dotted lines approximately as the arched part of eachlink engages the cord 5 adjacent the disk center. Adjacent ends of thelinks may pass each other during such adjustment, as illustrated inFigs. 2 and 4, and the total adjustment possible for each disk in theform illustrated is 300.

Both disks are colored as indicated, each bearing three equal segmentalareas, each area having one of the three primary colors, yellow, red andblue. The colors are so located on the disks and the latter so orientedthat each color area of each disk is in symmetrically opposed relationwith the corresponding area of the other disk.

In operation, with each reversal of the disks relative to their commonaxis of whirl, each will be caused by its inertia together with theinertia of the links 4, to have motion about its individual axis, suchinertia always acting in the same direction as to both disks, that is,tending to move both simultaneously either clockwise orcounterclockwise, and the entire assembly is unstable as to such diskadjustment.

. As to colors it will be evident that the arrangement described willalways produce, when the device is whirling, a pattern having a centralportion of one clearly defined color and a peripheral portion of anotherclearly defined color, one of these portions being a primary color andthe other a secondary color. The links 4 being always largely concealedbetween the overlapping portions of the disk, the central portion of thewhirling unit will have maximum brilliance, and the outer portions willlikewise have the greatest possible intensity since opposed extremitiesof the disks are always similarly colored.

To prevent jamming of the disks upon the links 4, each disk may beslightly bent outwardly from the other as at 6.

With reference now to the modification of Figs. 5 and 6, the disks aresimilar to each other and similarly disposed as in the modification ofFigs. 1.to 4. Each is rotatably mounted upon one end of a link I0 hereshown as of strap form, which link is disposed generally between theoverlapping portions of the disks. Eyelets H are employed for mountingthe disks upon the link so that in operating the device the stretches ofthe cord l2 are threaded through these eyelets for spinning the .device.as shown in Fig. 6.

The faces of the disks are colored as indicated in Fig. 5 principallywith the three primary colors red, yellow and blue, generally as before.But as where transparent colors are employed they may be applied toprovide overlapping segmental areas wherein the corresponding secondarycolors are produced so that the general pattern is one of a trilobate ofthree different secondary colors upon a background of three primarycolors, each secondary color lying between the two primary colors ofwhich it is compounded. The resultant effect is that the device is moreattractive when stationary.

To maintain the disks in their oriented relation, a resilient belt as ofrubber may be provided of sectional form as indicated in Fig. 7, andtrained about the peripheries of the disks as indicated in Fig. 8, withstretches between the disks. Then, the disks once properly oriented asin Fig. 5, such orientation will be maintained although the disks mayfreely rotate upon their own centers. If the lobate pattern of Fig. 5 beemployed, the resultant appearances when the disks are rotating eitherabout their own centers or about the common center, will be identicalwith the arrangement of the modification of Figs. 1 to 4. It may benoted that the link In being disposed substantially entirely between theoverlapping portions of the disks, is substantially invisible so thatthe color intensity of the whirling pair is substantially unimpaired.

With reference now to the modification of Figs. 9 to 12, the disks 20are colored as illustrated like those of Figs. 1 to- 4, or they may becolored as illustrated Fig. 5. They are mounted each for rotation aboutits own center upon a sheet metal stamping of the form illustrated inFig. 11, which comprises a yoke member 2| disposed between andinterconnecting the .disks as does the link member ll) of themodification of Figs. 5 and 6. The yoke is provided with punched holes22 to receive metal eyelets 23 by which the disks are mounted generallyas in the previous modification.

For maintaining the indexed relation between the disks while permittingtheir rotation in unison about their centers, they are peripherallytoothed as illustrated Fig. 9, and pinion means 24 are mounted upon theyoke 2| in intermeshing relation with the disk teeth. For the purposethe yoke has a pair of opposed slotted extensions 25 between its holes22 and projecting slightly beyond the disks as illustrated Fig. 9. Apair of pinions 24 are provided, each having a central annular groove asillustrated Fig. 12 and each thus comprising in effect a double pinionhaving a short central spindle, the length of which is very slightlygreater than the thickness of the yoke 2| and the diameter of which isslightly less than the width of the yoke slots.

In the assembly each double pinion is disposed as indicated Figs. 9 and10, its spindle bearing in the end of its yoke slot and its teethintermeshing with those of both disks 20, the slots being of suitablelength for the purpose.

The large central opening in the yoke 2| together with the weight of thetwo double pinions, provides improved balance of the assembly inoperation. While for simplicity in each of the modifications disclosed,but two disks have been illustrated and specifically described, it willbe apparent that three or more disks could be interconnected in a.single device, both for indexed adjustment about their individualcenters and for rotation in unison about a common central axis followingthe arrangement of any of the three modifications disclosed, withadjacent disks interconnected by means located between their overlappingportions.

Also it will be obvious that in each modification both faces of eachdisk may be colored so that the complete device is two-faced; or, ofcourse, advertising or like matter may be preferred for the reverseface.

What I claim is:

1. In an article of the class described, a pair of similar disksdisposed in partially overlapping relation and means extending betweensaid disks and mounting them for adjustment about their axes.

2. In an article of the class described, a pair of similar disksdisposed in partially overlapping relation, means extending between saiddisks for mounting them for adjustment about their axes, and meansgearing said disks to each other for equalizing their said adjustment.

3. In an article of the class described, a pair of similar disksdisposed in partially overlapping relation and means extending betweensaid disks and interconnecting them for adjustment about their axeswhile maintaining their oriented relation.

4. In an article of the class described, a pair of similar disksdisposed in partially overlapping relation, link means disposed betweenthe overlapping portions of said disks, and. means mounting said disksupon said link means for rotation about their axes.

5. An article of the class described, comprising a pair of similar disksdisposed in partially overlapping relation with the central part of eachadjacent the periphery of the other, means interconnecting said diskswhile permitting their adjustment about their axes, said means beingdisposed generally between the overlapping disk portions to besubstantially concealed thereby and there extending between the centralparts of the disks, and means for supporting said disks for theirrotation about a common axis intermediate the disk axes.

6. An article of the class described comprising a pair of similar disks,each having a central opening, said disks being disposed'in partiallyoverlapping relation with the opening of each adjacent the periphery ofthe other, means interconnecting said disks while permitting theiradjustment about their axes, said means being disposed generally betweenthe overlapping disk portions and extending between said openings, andmeans for supporting said disks for their rotation about a common axisand comprising flexible members extending through said open-- ings.

'7. An article of the class described comprising a pair of similar disksdisposed in partially overlapping relation with the central part of eachadjacent the periphery of the other, means extending between said disksand mounting them for adjustment about their axes, and means gearingsaid disks to each other for equalizing their said adjustment.

8. An article of the class described comprising a pair of similar disksdisposed in partially overlapping relation with the central part of eachadjacent the periphery of the other, means mounting said disks foradjustment about their axes, and belt means gearing said disks to eachother for causing said adjustment to be equal and similar for bothdisks.

9. An article of the class described comprising a pair of similar disksdisposed in partially overlapping relation with the central part of eachadjacent the periphery of the other, means mounting said disks foradjustment about their axes, and means gearing said disks to each otherfor causing said adjustment to be equal and similar for both disks, andcomprising belt means trained over and stretching between theperipheries of said disks.

10. An article of the class described, comprising-a pair of similarperipherally toothed disks disposed in partially overlapping relation, ayoke disposed between the disks, means mounting each disk upon said yokefor rotation about its axis, and pinion means mounted on said yoke andintermeshing with the teeth of said disks to maintain their orientedrelation while permitting their said rotation.

11. An article of the class described, comprising a pair of similarperipherally toothed disks disposed inpartially overlapping relationwith the central part of each adjacent the periphery of the other, amember disposed generally between the overlapping portions of the disksto be substantially concealed thereby, means mounting each disk uponsaid member for rotation about its axis, and pinion means mounted onsaid member and intermeshing with the teeth of said disks to maintaintheir oriented'relation while permitting their said rotation.

12. In an articleof the class described, a pair of similar disksdisposed in 'partiallyoverlapping relation with the central, part ofeach adjacent the periphery of the other, each disk having a centralopening, and link means disposed between said disks and interconnectingthem to permit their simultaneous adjustment about their respectivecenters while maintaining their indexed relation. 1

13. In an article of the class described, a pair of similar disksdisposed in partially overlapping relation with the central part of eachadjacent the periphery of the other, each disk having a central opening,and link means disposed between said disks and interconnecting them topermit their simultaneous adjustment about their respective centerswhile maintaining their indexed relation, said link means being ofarched form to increase the permissible adjustment while clearing saidopenings.

14. A disk for the purpose described having its face bearing threeprimary colors of transparent material, each in an area bounded inwardlyby an are having the radius of the disk intersecting the center of thedisk, said areas somewhat overlapping to produce relatively slightareas, between those of adjacent primary colors, bearing the secondarycolor compounded therefrom.

FRANK R. HIGLEY.

